A career self-efficacy programme for disadvantaged school-leavers

Abstract:

This research project involved the design, development and evaluation of a model to enhance career self-efficacy. The model is based on social cognitive theory and is intended for use amongst school-leavers in disadvantaged South African communities.
The project attempted to move away from theories used in the past, which catered mainly for the white population, towards a theory that (a) is applicable to various ethnic/socio-economic groups, (b) has practical as well as theoretical value, and (c) highlights important aspects, such as that of contextual, personal and experiential factors.
In order to assist the researcher in developing practical solutions for the identified problem, namely, the inadequate career guidance services in the disadvantaged sector, the intervention research model was utilized. Intervention research is characterized by its ability to provide researchers with systematic and purposeful guidance for real-world problems.
Programme development involved working through the requisite phases, namely, problem analysis, design, development and impact evaluation. In each phase requirements are stipulated and methodologies prescribed. During phase one, the problem analysis phase, the researcher identified disadvantaged school-leavers as being a population that is at risk, due to the historical lack of career guidance afforded them in the past. Contact was made with the Auxiliary Services of the Department of Education in the Westrand,
which is tasked with the provision of guidance services to the disadvantaged schools in the area. Information was gathered and synthesized in order to assess the current state of career development and guidance, and to identify elements that would contribute to the design of a suitable and effective intervention. Based on the aforementioned, the researcher decided that there was a need for the development of a programme, as no existing programme appeared to cater adequately for the problems identified.